GREENWOODSTUDIO wrote:Looks great Bill What cone's down there in the front? We are firing next weekend and I'm so "stoked" Looking forward to the results in the rear. Hope to see you around soon (doing Pottery Fair this year?)

Thanks Shawn (hope I used the correct spelling!) The cone on the right is 12 and instead of half over temperature, I took it all the way over... knowing it would be 12 flat/13 at the bottom floor in front. I knew it would run the glazes/shinos more and soak the wads, but the color blends are worth the extra work to grind off the soaked wads. I have some unbelievable pieces in this firing!! Sorry, I don't mean to brag, it's just that they are soooo beautiful!!!! Good luck with your firing next weekend! I will be at Pottery Fair this year. Hope to see you there again.

Hi Scott,I mean ITP... do you like the pieces I made for you? Thats just the front... I haven't seen the back or better yet the sides (where all the good stuff is... in the transitition areas). I am going out shortly to take out more. Too hot to continue last night any further. And I was still tired from firing... went 15 hours this time and went to bed around midnight. Alot of concentrating for 15 hours straight and some visitors stopped up too. Ed Feldman (and his son) and Don Hull both local guys down here.

Got up at 4:20 a.m. to meet my sons for a fishing trip. Not enough sleep for an old man. Cracked open the kiln after we got back in the afternoon to start cooling. Quick nap. Took down the door bit by bit, and started taking out pieces after dinner. Stopped around 11:30 p.m.

Everything that touches something else, a post, a piece of pottery, a lid, a bagwall brick, a bagwall brick on a bagwall brick... you get the idea... all needs to be wadded so it can be ground off later in case there is a glaze run or an area that ash has touched and then melted ( ash sticks/glaze gets tacky around 2100*f and melts around 2280*f)

If you look at the bottom of these turquoise cups, you can see where the glaze has soaked the wad .... the wads will break first as they end up as hard as a dog biscut allowing you to remove and clean up/ grind the piece.

Extra work to grind this off, but makes the glaze have those streaks/blends that I'm so fond of.

In case you have not discovered it..... I have been using diamond cutting disks for my 4 /12" body grinder and for my Dremel tool for a long while. They are WELL worth the cost. Then a slow speed wet grinder wheel that is similar to the ones used by cold glass workers for fine finishing and polishing.

People don't tend to realize all the work that wood firing adds into the equation.

Hey John,Thanks for the advice. I use a masonary grinder disc on my 4 1/2" body grinder. I have small pointier grinders for the dremel to get in the corners, etc. I have not tried the diamond disc, but plan on trying it now, and the slow speed wet grinder for polishing is something I need to check out! Thank you. I use wet/dry abrasive papers by hand to try to get it more polished. A lot of work!! and it still doesn't get it that great. Smooth to the touch but not "clear", still semi-opaque if you know what I mean.Wish I could be in the orient right now for the show/sale you mentioned on FB recently.Great advice and thanks...Bill

But I want to show you the most beautiful teacup I have made to date! It's turquoise and has this halo of red around a clear center with a shower of snowflake ash crystals suspended in the layers of clear glaze. It's stunning!! The pictures don't do it true justice. You can't see the depth of the glaze or the subtlety of colors. It is just unbelievable in your hand.

I have learned that these gems only come by once in a while. This is one that I would want to submit, for example: Lark's Cups Book, or as a portfolio piece for a show or catolouge, or a juried show winner... It is NFS (not for sale) There is a very nice similar one to this one on etsy, but it isn't in the same league.

And another nice flare lip teacup I'll be listing shortly...

and a small turquoise t-pot...

It was a great firing, I have more teaware to list on etsy, and a lot of other things like larger t-pots, mugs, casseroles, etc... Click on this link if your interested. I'm listing everyday (that it isn't storming... we have satellite internet out here in the country!)